UAE’s Etihad Airways makes first-known flight to Tel Aviv to deliver aid for Palestinians
May 20, 2020 by JNS
The United Arab Emirates’ Etihad Airways announced that it will fly to Israel to deliver coronavirus aid for the Palestinians, marking the first-known direct commercial flight between the two nations. Read more
Billy Crystal, FBI director to join ‘Virtual L’Chaim’ to first responders amid pandemic
May 20, 2020 by JNS
Actor Billy Crystal and FBI director Christopher Wray will be among those who will raise a glass during a Zoom cocktail event on tomorrow (Thursday) at 10 am AEST in salute to those on the front lines in combating the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
Ashkenazi: Trump Middle East peace plan a ‘historic opportunity’ for Israel
May 19, 2020 by JNS
Newly-appointed Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi called U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mideast peace plan a “historic opportunity.” Read more
Jordan’s Abdullah warns of ‘massive conflict’ if Israel proceeds with annexation
Jordan’s King Abdullah warned of “massive conflict” between his country and Israel if the Jewish state proceeds with annexing territory this summer in Judea and Samaria. Read more
UK chief rabbi: ‘Synagogues will not open for a long time’
May 15, 2020 by JNS
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis projected on Thursday that all houses of worship affiliated with the United Synagogue—the largest network of Orthodox communities in the United Kingdom—“will not open for a long time” and urged “extreme caution” against synagogues doing so otherwise in that it would enable a “hub for the virus to reappear.” Read more
Hamas threatens more kidnappings if prisoner deal not reached with Israel
May 15, 2020 by JNS
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has threatened to kidnap more Israelis if a prisoner deal is not reached. Read more
Facebook names ex-member of Muslim Brotherhood-linked party to new board
May 15, 2020 by JNS
Among the first 20 members Facebook announced last week to its new and independent oversight board is Peace Prize Nobel laureate Tawakkol Karman, a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood-linked Al Islah Party in Yemen. Read more
In Israel visit, Pompeo urges progress on Trump’s Mideast peace plan, blasts Iranian aggression
May 14, 2020 by JNS
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Israel on Wednesday morning for a six-hour visit to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discuss the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration’s Mideast peace plan and Iranian aggression. Read more
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University develop one-minute coronavirus test
May 14, 2020 by JNS
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have developed a one-minute coronavirus test they hope will be used to help authorities more quickly track and identify the spread of the virus at a significantly lower cost than current testing. Read more
Search continues for IDF soldier’s killers amid clashes
May 14, 2020 by JNS
Arab rioters hurled stones at Israel Defense Forces’ soldiers in the Palestinian Authority-controlled Hebron region on Wednesday morning during operations to apprehend terror suspects, according to IDF reports. Read more
Report: Ben-Gurion airport expected to reopen by June
May 14, 2020 by JNS
Israel is weighing opening Ben-Gurion International Airport at the beginning of June as the coronavirus outbreak continues to level off in Israel. Read more
Girlfriend of fallen IDF soldier calls for revenge, as father laments only son
May 13, 2020 by JNS
In an interview with reporters on Tuesday, the girlfriend of an Israel Defense Forces’ soldier killed during an arrest operation near Jenin when a resident threw a cinder block at his head, recalled his love for his country and demanded that the government avenge the death of her boyfriend. Read more
Israel prepares to reopen eateries, institutes new sanitation measures
May 13, 2020 by JNS
Israel’s Ministry of Health, Ministry of Economy and Industry, and companies in the restaurant industry are slated to sit around the table on Wednesday to discuss how to ease open bars and eateries after two months of closure as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Read more
Report: France wants tough response if Israel goes ahead with annexation
France is pushing members of the European Union to consider threatening Israel with tough consequences if it goes ahead with its plan to annex parts of Judea and Samaria. Read more
Gilad Erdan appointed as next Israeli ambassador to both US, UN
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that he is appointing Minister of Public Security, Strategic Affairs and Minister of Information Gilad Erdan as both the Israeli ambassador to the United States and United Nations. Read more
Poll: Most Jewish Israelis support annexation
May 11, 2020 by JNS
A majority of Jewish Israelis (52 per cent) support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to apply sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, according to a poll published on Sunday. Read more
Malls and outdoor markets reopen as Israel further eases COVID-19 restrictions
May 8, 2020 by JNS
Israel’s malls and outdoor markets reopened on Thursday morning, much to the delight of retailers and shoppers alike. Read more
Emotionally, KISS frontman Simmons discovers mother’s past during Holocaust
May 8, 2020 by JNS
Rock legend and KISS frontman Gene Simmons got teary-eyed when reading over historical documents about his late Jewish mother’s experiences in the Holocaust and liberation from the Mauthausen concentration camp during a recent interview with Bild. Read more
Western Wall reopens to worshippers, but with strict social-distancing limitations
May 7, 2020 by JNS
The Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem re-opened to worshippers on Tuesday morning after the Israeli government announced a softening of its social-distancing orders across the country. Read more
Biden pledges to reopen PLO mission and resume US assistance to Palestinians
May 7, 2020 by JNS
Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that if elected president, he would reopen the Palestine Liberation Organization Diplomatic Mission in Washington, D.C., and restore U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority. Read more
Netanyahu lauds Israel’s coronavirus ‘success,’ announces gradual reopening of economy
May 6, 2020 by JNS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has touted Israel’s “major success” in confronting the coronavirus pandemic, and laid out the government’s plan for a phased reopening of the economy following weeks of lockdowns. Read more
Online project in Britain sets up learning between students and Holocaust survivors
May 6, 2020 by JNS
The United Kingdom’s National Holocaust Centre and Museum have launched an online program that allows schoolchildren at home during the coronavirus pandemic to ask questions to Holocaust survivors. Read more
Intel buys Israel’s Moovit app for $900 million
May 6, 2020 by JNS
Intel, the world’s largest chip-maker, is buying Israeli app Moovit for $900 million, in a move meant to advance its plan to develop self-driving cars. Read more
UK Labour general secretary resigns after tenure tainted with antisemitism
May 5, 2020 by JNS
U.K. Labour General Secretary Jennie Formby, who once said it’s “impossible to eradicate antisemitism,” has resigned from the position. Read more
Despite coronavirus, Jews’ bodies still being flown to Israel for burial
Despite the coronavirus outbreak and almost the complete shutdown of international travel to Israel, deceased Jews from around the world continue to be flown to Israel for burial. Read more
Israel’s High Court hears petitions against Netanyahu’s continued rule
May 4, 2020 by JNS
Israel’s High Court of Justice began hearing petitions on Sunday seeking to bar incumbent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from forming a government, including a national-unity coalition with Blue and White leader Benny Gantz while facing criminal indictments. Read more
Former Labour MPs expelled over antisemitism invited to speak in online meeting
A number of former Labour Party members who were involved in the party’s widely covered antisemitism crisis participated with Labour MPs on Wednesday evening in an online meeting hosted by the newly formed “Don’t Leave, Organize” group, reported The Jewish Chronicle.
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Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher donate cargo of PPE to health-care workers in UK
May 3, 2020 by JNS
British Jewish comedian and actor Sacha Baron Cohen and his wife, Australian actress Isla Fisher, helped donate a cargo of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that was airlifted to healthcare workers in the United Kingdom last week. Read more
Israeli film ‘Asia’ wins awards at Tribeca Film Festival
May 3, 2020 by JNS
The Israeli movie “Asia” won three awards at the Tribeca Film Festival, including one for Israeli actress Shira Haas and the Nora Ephron Award. Read more
Israeli biotech company starts clinical trials of CBD-steroid treatment for virus
May 3, 2020 by JNS
The Israel-based biotech company Stero Biotechs has started a small-scale clinical trial at Rabin Medical Centre’s Golda Hasharon Campus in Petach Tikvah on the effects of a steroid-Cannabidiol (CBD) treatment on hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Read more
